About the Series

Lesley University proudly presents the Boston Speakers Series, an outstanding opportunity for our community – and the Greater Boston community – to benefit from the perspectives of national and world leaders, authors, activists, historians, humanitarians and other influential individuals.

As Lesley continues to deepen its century-long tradition of service to others, the University seeks to build knowledge and engage our community in meaningful dialogue. Lesley University’s Boston Speakers Series is an extension of our mission to educate, inform, and expand our global outreach.

We are proud to be an institution of higher education that cultivates individual growth and community well-being, which is why we present the Boston Speakers Series.

There are opportunities to partner with Lesley University to sponsor this thought-provoking series. To learn how you can engage with the distinguished speakers we present and reach our intellectually curious audience, read more here.

2014-2015 Boston Speakers Series

Madeleine Albright, September 17, 2014 – The first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state, Madeleine Albright earlier served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Born in Prague, her family was first exiled by the Nazis, and eventually settled in Denver. A Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Albright currently serves as a professor at Georgetown University. Read a professor's prologue by Jo-Anne Hart here. Read coverage of the lecture here.

Julia Gillard, October 22, 2014 – Julia Gillard’s political career was crowned by her service as prime minister of Australia and leader of the Australian Labor Party from 2010 to 2013, the first woman to hold either position. Born in Wales, her family migrated to Australia when she was a child. Gillard’s earlier posts included numerous Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet positions. Read a professor's prologue by Bryan Brophy-Baermann here. Read coverage of her lecture here.

Ken Burns, November 12, 2014 - A filmmaker for over 30 years, Ken Burns has directed and produced some of the most acclaimed documentaries, including “Civil War” (1990), “Baseball” (1994), “The War” (2007), and “Prohibition” (2011). He has won 12 Emmy Awards and has two Oscar nominations. He has also won the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Lifetime Achievement Award. Read a professor's prologue by Matthew Nash here. Read coverage of his lecture here.

Olympia Snowe, January 21, 2015 - Named one of “America’s Ten Best Senators” by Time in 2006, Olympia Snowe of Maine became widely known for her ability to influence the outcome of close votes in the Senate. She was the youngest Republican woman elected to the U.S. Congress, and she is the first woman to have served in both houses of a state legislature and both houses of Congress. Read a professor's prologue by Michael Illuzzi here. Read coverage of her lecture here.

David Gergen, February 11, 2015 - A senior political analyst for CNN and a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, David Gergen served as a presidential advisor during the administrations of Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon. His election team coverage has twice won the Peabody Award, once with MacNeil-Lehrer and once with CNN.

Ishmael Beah, March 18, 2015 - In 1991, during Sierra Leone’s civil war, 13-year-old Ishmael Beah was forced to become a child soldier. Brainwashed and kept addicted to cocaine mixed with gunpowder, he fought for the government army against the rebels for three years. Finally rescued by UNICEF, Beah ultimately fled to the United States and is now an author and active human rights defender.

Dan Rather, April 22, 2015 – Dan Rather anchored the CBS “Evening News” for 24 years, from 1981 to 2005. During this time, he also contributed to CBS’s “60 Minutes.” Rather is now the managing editor and anchor of the cable television news magazine “Dan Rather Reports.” In 2012, he released his bestseller “Rather Outspoken” about his life and the state of journalism today.

The speakers include activists, authors and world leaders, each bringing a broad perspective, deep experience and scholarly focus that will examine critical issues, challenge conventional thinking, and frame new ideas.